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Leeds City Bikes Expands With New E-Bike Model And Service AreasUsers of Leeds’ cycle hire scheme will benefit from a new model of electric bike when it launches next week. From Tuesday 22 April, 265 improved and easier to use e-bikes will be introduced to the Leeds City Bikes fleet.
Delivered by British e-bike hire operator Beryl, Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the Leeds City Bikes scheme will also expand its service with 10 new docking stations being installed by next Tuesday.
The new ‘BBE2’ e-bikes are lighter and easier to lock and unlock, and boast a better range of up to 80 kilometres. The next-generation e-bike improves ride quality thanks to its 23-inch wheels with broad rims and puncture-resistant tyres, and a convenient 10kg capacity front basket. Accessibility is also prioritised with a low-step-through frame and adjustable seating for a wider range of riders (4’11” to 6’5″). Users are advised that the new e-bikes will feature a different lock mechanism than the existing BBE1 fleet.
Alongside the new e-bikes, Leeds City Bikes will be expanding its service area to include places like Roundhay and Oakwood – providing more residents and visitors with better access to sustainable transport options.
The new bikes will join the existing fleet, providing increased availability and choice for users.Phil Ellis, CEO at Beryl, said:“We are thrilled to be launching the BBE2 in Leeds and expanding the Leeds City Bikes service. Already, we have seen our bikes become a convenient and sustainable option for commuters and visitors alike – a practical and easy-to-use mobility solution. We look forward to seeing the reaction of riders to our innovative new BBE2, packed with new features and rider comforts.”
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, said:“Our cycle hire scheme has many benefits, helping people get around and improving their health and wellbeing. That’s why we’ve invested in making it a success – so I’m delighted to see its expansion and the rollout of new and improved bikes.
“This is an essential part of our vision to create a fully integrated transport network in a greener, better-connected region.”
(Pic: Leeds.gov.uk)road-bridge
Apr 17, 2025
Highway News
Research Names Areas With Most Reported Pothole PayoutsResearch has revealed that in recent years over £800,000 has been paid out to drivers who have experienced vehicle damage due to potholes. With this in mind motoring experts at BlackCircles sent Freedom of Information requests to local authorities across the UK to reveal the areas with the most reported potholes over the past five years, the number of potholes repaired each year and the total annual cost of pothole repairs.
BlackCircles also surveyed 2,000 people as part of their research, to determine what impact potholes have on UK motorists. The full research can be viewed here but the top three areas were:
1 – Hertfordshire takes top spot with an average payout per claim at £367.
Regarding compensation claims paid out by councils, Hertfordshire paid the highest average in 2023, at £367 per claim. This is slightly less than one and a half times the average payout (£261) and £93 less than the £460 drivers can expect to pay for vehicle damage caused by potholes.
2 – Suffolk and Surrey follow in joint second with an average payout per claim at £350.
Two local authorities take second place, with Suffolk and Surrey paying out an average of £350 per claim in 2023. According to the data, the most successful claims were made in Surrey, with almost one in six (14%) successful claims compared to just over one in 10 (11%) in Suffolk.
The survey revealed the following about the state of UK potholes:
Further findings also revealed:
James Harding, a motoring expert with 15 years of experience at Blackcircles, has commented on the findings from the pothole report:
“Reports have suggested that the estimated cost of repairing England and Wales’ pothole-plagued roads could amount to almost £17bn. The quality of the country’s roads has been heavily in the spotlight over recent weeks, with the Prime Minister pledging £1.6bn towards fixing the pothole pandemic the UK faces, but many believe more needs to be done.
Our latest research has uncovered the worst-hit areas of the UK for potholes and Newcastle comes out on top. The northwest city reported 3,275 potholes per 100 kilometres of road and our survey revealed that a third of local motorists have suffered damage to their vehicle at least once due to the city’s potholes.
As well as being a nuisance to motorists around the country, potholes are also putting a financial strain on local councils. The findings from our report revealed that Croydon was the area of the UK where the highest amount was spent repairing potholes, at over £500,000 per 100 kilometres of road. When combining the total cost spent on pothole repairs across the top 10 local authorities in our research, over £2.2 million has been spent, further highlighting the impact the quality of UK roads has on the country’s finances.”
(Pic: BlackCircles)road-bridge
Apr 17, 2025
Highway News
Costain Completes Construction Of 41 M1 Emergency Areas Ahead Of ScheduleCostain, the infrastructure solutions company working as part of SMP Alliance, has completed the construction of 41 new emergency areas ahead of schedule between junctions 28 and 35A of the M1.
The emergency areas are on a 32-mile stretch of the motorway between Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. They are part of National Highways’ National Emergency Area Retrofit (NEAR) programme, a £390m investment plan which, along with technology like stopped vehicle detection, aims to improve safety on the road network.
The emergency areas are stationed at regular intervals along the motorway where there isn’t a permanent hard shoulder, offering a safe place for road users to stop in an emergency. Each area is approximately 100 metres long and is clearly marked in orange tarmac and blue signs with an orange SOS telephone symbol.
Costain, as SMP Alliance on-site assembly partner, has now completed the installation of the final 22 emergency areas between junctions 28 and 30, with the spacing between emergency areas reduced by half.
The 32-mile stretch of road, which carries more than 200,000 vehicles a day, is now fully open for traffic at the national speed limit and has been completed ahead of schedule, improving regional mobility within Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.
Jacky Li, project director at Costain, commented: “It’s a fantastic achievement to have delivered these three schemes, which cover more than 30 miles of one of the UK’s busiest motorways, ahead of schedule. Through a collaborative approach and a like-minded group of delivery and supplier network partners in SMP Alliance, we’ve been able to efficiently and safely deliver all 41 emergency areas for National Highways.
“Our work will improve the resilience of the local road network, and the additional emergency areas will increase safety, reduce disruption and improve mobility for road users for many years to come, helping to drive prosperity across Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.”
(Pic: Costain)road-bridge
Apr 16, 2025
Highway News
Autonomous Vehicles Triumphing Over Evil Human Drivers? New Book Offers “Alternative” ScenarioIn the real world, autonomous vehicles are still a work in progress as they become a more familiar sight on our city roads. In Noah Pickholtz’s fictional world however, they’re heroes combatting against the evils of distracted driving.
Pickholtz, a founder and tech investor based in Jerusalem, has written a pro-autonomous vehicle children’s book that centres on the titular heroine, cheekily named “Ayvee Hickle.”
It’s part of a broader effort by a small team at StellarNova publishing to familiarize the next generation with “autonomous vehicles, women in STEM fields, and beyond,” Pickholtz, StellarNova’s chief creative officer, told Business Insider.
In Eastern countries such as Japan, society tends to look favorably upon “autonomous elements,” he said, whereas the West can tend to think “Terminator” when they hear of robots. Books like “Ayvee Hickle” could be the antidote.
“That perception is definitely changing, and hopefully, we can be assistive in moving people’s minds to appreciate the value of what can be done,” he said.
In the story, Ayvee Hickel is a young female car with “extraordinary” gifts that later allow her to fight against the book’s villain, the diabolical Distracto.
Distracto is a monster truck representing everything wrong with human drivers. He causes other cars on the road to crash with his “Distracto-ray,” which sends vehicles “non-stop texts and notifications.” The book doesn’t explicitly depict human drivers, but the reference is clear.
“There was an externality concept of moving it out from the individual as being responsible to an external bad character,” Pickholtz said, wanting to depict the behaviors rather than the humans doing them.
Ayvee Hickel overcomes the obstacles thrown at her in the book – including bad weather – using superpowers activated by a computer named “Chippy.” The powers include camera vision and “radar and lidar super-sensors.”
(Pic: StellaNova)road-bridge
Apr 16, 2025
Highway News
Nottingham City Council Welcomes £16.4Million Transport Funding BoostMore than £16m of external funding will be invested into Nottingham city’s transport network in 2025/26 thanks to the new East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).
Nottingham City Council is expected to officially accept the funding at its Executive Board meeting on Tuesday 22 April.
EMCCA, which has now taken over the role of directing the allocation of local transport funding, is providing funding for projects in Nottingham in four streams:
This is a new funding stream for the region. It will enable transformational investment in infrastructure alongside the annual Highways Maintenance and Integrated Transport funding awards linked to the Local Transport Plan. This funding will be used to:
This funding will be used to:
This funding will allow the City Council to continue work on the next phase of walking and cycling improvements on Porchester Road, which will begin immediately.
Bus Service Improvement Plan £4.9m
This funding will be used to accelerate the decarbonisation of the council’s local bus fleet by offering funding that local bus operators can bid for to be used to purchase electric buses and adapt bus depots to EV charging technology
Councillor Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications said: “We are delighted to receive this investment into Nottingham thanks to the East Midlands Combined County Authority.
A 100% increase in the money we have available to maintain and fix our roads will mean we’re able to make a big difference tackling the potholes which risk the safety of cyclists, drivers and pedestrians.
Thanks to this funding, we’ll be able to make many positive changes to Keep Nottingham Moving, promote integrated transport and active travel, support our local economy, reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, creating a happier, healthier city.”
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “I am delighted we have been given this additional funding to invest in our roads and local transport programmes across the region. This is more than filling potholes and getting people from A to B, it’s about transforming lives and communities, and it will give us a fantastic opportunity to connect people across the region and make it easier to access jobs, skills training, health appointments, and our incredible tourist attractions.”
PIC-NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCILroad-bridge
Apr 16, 2025
Highway News
National Highways Lifts More Than A Thousand Miles Of Roadworks For EasterAs normal for major holiday getaways, National Highways is lifting 1,127 miles of roadworks over the bank holiday.
The government says around 97.5% of major roads across England will be completely free from roadworks, “speeding up millions of journeys and boosting connectivity across the country to drive growth – the key priority in the government’s plan for change”.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “We are tackling the real problems that drivers face by lifting 1,127 miles of roadworks over Easter and cracking down on disruptive streetworks to make journeys to see loved ones as smooth as possible.
“Cutting journey times and saving drivers money every year is all part of our Plan for Change to raise living standards and put more money in people’s pockets.”
Significant routes seeing roadworks being lifted or completed in time for the Easter getaway include:
(Picture – DfT)road-bridge
Apr 16, 2025
Highway News
Southampton Secondary School Students Secure Funding For Their Active Travel And Road Safety CampaignsSouthampton City Council welcomed students from six secondary schools in the Southampton area to the first Modeshift Active Travel Ambassador event.
The event was opened by the Southampton-born, Team GB paralympic gold medallist, Aaron Phipps MBE who praised the students for being role models. Aaron won Gold at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in Wheelchair Rugby and spoke to students about his awe-inspiring journey, overcoming adversity and showing incredible resilience.
Aaron Phipps, MBE, said: “It was a pleasure to meet so many enthusiastic children from Southampton schools and hearing their really innovative ideas for active travel campaigns. I fully applaud and respect their efforts to get their school community out of cars and walking and wheeling to their school. It was great to hear that my speech at the event about what I have achieved in my life really inspired them to double their efforts and make their active travel campaigns a success. I wish them all the very best of luck!”
The Active Travel Ambassador (ATA) programme gives young people aged 11 upwards the confidence and skills to tackle the transport issues affecting their school. Schools have been supported by Modeshift’s ATA Coordinator and Southampton City Council’s and Hampshire County Council’s School Travel Team Officers to help them research and develop behaviour change campaigns, focusing on active travel and road safety which they presented to a panel of experts to secure funding to deliver their campaigns.
Students and staff from Oasis Academy Sholing, Redbridge Community School, St Anne’s Catholic School, St George Catholic College, Woodlands Community College and Noadswood School, all travelled sustainably to the event by walking, taking the bus or train. Those travelling by train to the event were supported by the Hampshire Community Rail Partnership with free rail tickets.
The student ambassadors passionately presented a range of ideas to address the issues they identified, including: campaigns to stop parents/carers’ vehicles idling outside of the school gate and to promote and encourage more students to cycle to school. Other campaigns focused on improving mental health through more active journeys, running inter school active travel competitions, engaging staff to travel more sustainably to school, and holding a sponsored walk to raise money to support further campaigns.
The thorough presentations and campaign ideas impressed the panel members, who then questioned the students about their campaigns. The panel decided that every school should receive £200 from Modeshift to deliver their campaigns and to build on the excellent work they had already completed.
The standout campaign, and an additional £50 of funding, was awarded to St George Catholic College for their ideas of creating active travel ‘bingo’ cards to motivate students to be more active throughout the day, using journey tracking apps to run an inter class active travel competition, and holding a teacher versus teacher ‘Olympics’ to raise funds for more prizes for active travel competitions.
Councillor Eamonn Keogh, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “I was delighted to be able to take part in this fantastic event and it is so encouraging to see our city’s students talk so confidently and passionately about active travel, road safety and air quality. The students have clearly worked hard to identify the travel issues local to their school and develop targeted campaigns to resolve these issues. With the funding provided by Modeshift, the students have a fantastic opportunity to be the voice of change within their schools and I look forward to seeing the delivery and impact of their campaigns”.
Ross Butcher, the Chair of Modeshift said: “The Modeshift Active Travel Ambassadors programme empowers secondary school pupils by giving them the skills and confidence to tackle travel issues in their school. They are working incredibly hard to promote the benefits of walking, cycling and wheeling, acting as active travel role models to their friends and peers and leaving a legacy in their school community.”
Southampton City Council and Hampshire County Council both offer schools free travel planning support to identify barriers to active travel and road safety issues, and then jointly work with schools to resolve these issues through a range of behaviour change initiatives, campaigns and activities.
PIC-SOUTHAMPTON CCroad-bridge
Apr 16, 2025
Highway News
Coventry’S Cvlr Set For City Centre Test RunRailAdventure UK, a specialist transport company in the West Midlands, will operate the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) vehicle for the on-road test in the city centre in May and June this year.
CVLR is a new and innovative transportation system that is using the region’s advanced automotive expertise to provide a flexible and affordable alternative to traditional light rail. It features a modern vehicle and a unique, revolutionary track design, aiming to offer a reliable, frequent, and eco-friendly ‘hop-on, hop-off’ service for Coventry residents.
RailAdventure UK has earned its reputation by providing support services for rail operations, moving trains, testing them, and running passenger services. The company has now secured the contract that will see a father-and-son team driving the vehicle and its passengers on the 220-metre demonstration track.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and West Midlands Combined Authority chair, said:
“Very light rail is a revolutionary technology being developed and delivered here in our region – so it’s right that the operator for this first test track should be a West Midlands company.
“The speed at which we can move from starting work to running a tram through Coventry city center shows the world how fast and efficiently a tram system can be installed. CVLR will play a huge role in delivering on my vision to connect more communities with affordable and accessible public transport.”
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration, and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, said:
“This is a significant step in our ongoing testing of Very Light Rail, and it’s fantastic that we’re working with RailAdventureUK to demonstrate this innovative model and prove the benefits it will bring to Coventry.
“Very Light Rail is just the beginning of our plans to revolutionise transport in our city, tackle climate change, improve air quality, and provide a reliable and accessible travel option.
“We will be running Very Light Rail for four weeks, and residents will have the opportunity to experience this one-of-a-kind vehicle and track system and provide feedback on the experience.
“I look forward to travelling in our vehicle on our track and encourage all residents to sign up when available. Details of how to apply will be made available on the council website soon.”
Kevin Walker, Managing Director of RailAdventure UK, said:
“This project is a perfect fit for RailAdventure – it’s local, innovative, and uses our operational expertise and passion for bringing new ideas to life! Our local teams will be working on this test.
“With our experience as a rail operator, including battery-powered traction, we are excited to showcase why we believe there is a strong future for this type of operation. We look forward to playing a role in shaping it.”
(Pic: Coventry City Council)road-bridge
Apr 15, 2025
Highway News
Nped Launches New Campaign For Safer And Fairer RoadsThe founder of the National Persistent Evaders Database of drivers has launched a new Drive Legal campaign, described as a national movement dedicated to tackling the pressing issue of non-compliant vehicles on the UK’s roads.
Alan Wood, the CEO of NPED says ten million vehicles across the nation are non-compliant, contributing to criminal activity, anti-social behaviour, and placing substantial financial burdens on both law-abiding motorists and the exchequer.
He lists key concerns around a lack of Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax), no valid MOT certificate, absence of vehicle insurance, unregistered or illegally plated vehicles and the use of cloned and ghost number plates.
Mr Wood says the presence of these vehicles threatens the integrity, safety, and efficiency of our roads network which is the cornerstone of UK transportation. The Drive Legal campaign is bringing together organisations like yours, parking operations, and the public to form one powerful collective voice for change.
“By joining the Drive Legal campaign, you will have the opportunity to become part of the collective voice for increased compliance and fairness for all road users and participate in education initiatives to reshape public perceptions and practices concerning vehicle compliance,” Mr Wood said. “This will help create a safer, more equitable driving environment that benefits everyone.”
“Together, we can redefine how the nation approaches vehicle compliance and create impactful, long-lasting change.”
You can sign up here.
Mr Wood has previously described NPED as “Santa’s naughty list, but for cars,” identifying vehicles sought for non-payment of parking tickets and linking them to other offences such as no MOT, insurance or vehicle excise duty. You can hear more about it on a Highways Voices podcast here.
(Picture – NPED)road-bridge
Apr 15, 2025
Highway News
£3.5M Of Road Improvements To Begin In East Riding To Help Protect Against PotholesRoad improvements worth £3.5m are due to be carried out in the East Riding this spring and summer to help protect against potholes and other damage.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is investing the money in its annual surface dressing programme, which is set to begin on 23 April and is expected to take 13 weeks to complete, weather depending.
The highway maintenance programme will cover all types of roads, from A roads to unclassified roads, and will see 151 sections of road in the area (around 67 miles) upgraded – which is the same as paving a straight road from Beverley to Nottingham.
Around 12,600 tonnes of stone chippings will be laid on road surfaces during the spring and summer operation.
Surface dressing is a fast and cost-effective method of fixing, preserving and prolonging the lifespan of a road, and it is carried out annually by the council’s own highways maintenance team.
The process actively reduces the risk of potholes forming as it seals the road and stops water from entering and damaging the surface. It also greatly improves skid resistance for vehicles.
The process is carried out during the spring and summer months as it requires warmer temperatures for the bitumen and chippings to take effect.
Adam Holmes, the council’s director of infrastructure and facilities, said: “Thanks to residents and motorists for bearing with us while we carry out our annual surface dressing programme.
“Our teams will be out in around 150 locations over the next three months carrying out a vital job to help protect these sections of road from potholes and other damage.”
During and after the work, temporary 20mph speed limits are in force on the treated roads to reduce the possibility of vehicles skidding on the loose chippings and will be removed when the new road markings have been installed.
Disruption to traffic will be kept to a minimum, but drivers are asked to respect the 20mph speed limit, in place to protect both the travelling public and the council’s workforce.
Residents and drivers will be informed before the works begin. A leaflet will be sent to residents impacted by the works and advance warning signs will be placed on the roads beforehand.
After the surfacing dressing is complete, any loose stone chippings left behind won’t go to waste.
Mechanical road sweepers are used to collect up all the loose chippings, which are then stored.
Then every two years the council hires a giant industrial washing and grading machine to clean all the loose chippings so they can be recycled and reused on the roads the following year.
The process recycles more than 7,000 tonnes of chippings and saves around £60,000 of council tax payers’ money.
PIC and VIDEO-EAST RIDING COUNCILroad-bridge
Apr 15, 2025